Yes, I'd like to add to that, always wear a mask when sanding rocks!!! - 10,000 miners can't be wrong (mainly because they are dead from silicosis).
In my experience once you have achieved the desired result, it is VERY important to clean the surface of the rock, since dust sits in the crevices and hides the detail. I have often wiped specimens with an alcohol soaked cloth that have supposedly been prepared by the 'experts' and found the cloth turned black with preparation dust, only to reveal much unseen detail on the slice!, so its worth taking the trouble to clean the rock well after sanding.... Best, Mark Ford -----Original Message----- From: Martin Altmann [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 12:33 AM To: Christian Anger; meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] RE: RE: Polishing slices? And addition: Don't forget to clean your fingernails too, if you switch to the next higher grid. A single remaining grain from the coarser powder could disturb the result of the next polishing round. Control with a good magnyfying glass from time to time whether marks from the antecedent coarser grains are visible, if not anymore, you can go on to the next finest grain. I use also the sand papers dry, but for cleaning the slices between the switching to the next grid, I use water or alcool for the more sensible stones. If water, add a little drop of dish-liquid, and use a toothbrush from downwards to the specimen - so the loose grindiding grains and the dust will fall out and easily sink away from the piece. Dry it shortly. This wet cleaning is not so problematic, if you continue immediately with the grinding as the water will fastly volatilize. After the last grinding a good test to see, whether there ist some dust left in the slice is to wipe the surface with some pressure over your leg, which should stuck in a black jeans. You'll see immediately whether it has some dust left or not. But don't tell to mommy... With dry polishing you should use a mask against fine dusts. Cosmic dust in the lungs in not so agreeable, especially not the nickle from the iron meteorites. Those masks aren't expensive and should be found in each DIY store. Don't mix them up, with those for only hygienic purposes, those are not suitable. All in all a hard work, but by hand one can produce a perfect polish with small means. Happy working! Martin ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christian Anger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Meteoryt.net'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 12:47 AM Subject: [meteorite-list] RE: RE: Polishing slices? > Disagreement ! > > I also lay the sanding papers on a flat glass which has the same effect of > producing a flat surface on the sample. I do not have rounded edges on my > specimens. > Also it is wrong to move the face of the probe in circles. > You have to describe an "8" when moving the sample across the grains or > paper - that's the real polishing technique. > > I also do NOT produce scratches. You have to take care not to withdraw > grinding material from the coarser grinding papers to the next lower > grinding grain size paper. Keep your sanding papers clean. Store every > sanding paper extra, be careful and make the job with patience and love. > > I do not have the difficulties what Marcin is talking about. > And diamond powders or pastes are expensive too. > > The technique I use only takes time. I own years of experience in polishing > by using sanding paper and I also use it DRY - without any fluid (water, > alcohol etc...) - I think nobody expected this - but that's my experience > and it works - works very well and I have best results - without any > scratches. You just have to learn it. Experience is all. > > It is a lot of work, for sure, but this belongs to curating a collection > too, for me, at least. > > Cheers and good night, > > Christian > ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list